Extraordinarily rare, the cards formerly known simply as "1921 Baltimore Orioles" cards have recently been identified as White's Bakery Baltimore Orioles. Issued only in the Baltimore area on a one-a-day basis, the cards were included in loaves of White's Big Tip Top Bread.  The sepia-toned cards are susceptible to severe condition flaws due to their method of distribution and the thin stock on which they were printed.  However, the cards are extremely beautiful, oversized (3 1/4" x 5 1/2"), each featuring an attractive player photo and identifying information printed at the bottom of the card in an elegant typeface. The unnumbered cards are extraordinarily scarce, with PSA having graded just 42 cards in total, of the 22 known subjects in the set. Half of those cards are featured in this auction, we believe the largest group ever assembled.

Catcher Ben Egan played four seasons of major league ball, but by 1921 was nearing the end of his playing career, at 37 years old. Egan was probably best known as Babe Ruth's catcher and best friend with the 1914 Orioles, and was sold to the Red Sox for $3500 - $600 more than Ruth! Dunn bought Egan back three years later for just $300. A fan favorite and well-known practical joker, Egan remained in baseball as a coach with major, minor and college teams until the 1940s.  His card here has been graded POOR 1 due to the creasing and wear ubiquitous to this issue, the eye appeal is strong for the grade.